When it comes to Thai tea, you may immediately think of that cup of orange-red Thai milk tea - the rich tea aroma mixed with the sweetness of condensed milk, which is the soul flavor of Thai streets. But you may not know that Thailand not only produces tea, but is also growing at an astonishing rate to become the fourth-largest tea producer in ASEAN, and its high mountain oolong tea can even rival the high-quality tea from Taiwan, China.

Today, as the third installment of the [Global Niche Origin Tea] series, we will embark on a journey into this smiling nation to explore the unique charm of Thai tea.

Exploration of Terroir: The Three Core Tea-Producing Regions of Thailand

Thailand is located in the central part of the Indochinese Peninsula, with a coastline of over 2,600 kilometers. It is surrounded by mountains and faces the sea, enjoying a pleasant climate throughout the year. Its tea cultivation is mainly distributed in the northern mountainous areas, which are surrounded by mountains and have rugged roads, making it the golden area for Thai tea.

1. Chiang Rai Green Peak Tea Garden - The Most Beautiful Tea Garden in Northern Thailand

Choui Fong Tea Plantation · 40+ years history

Choui Fong Tea Plantation, located in Chiang Rai, has a history of over 40 years since its development and is currently the largest tea plantation in Chiang Rai and the most beautiful and largest in northern Thailand.[图片] 翠峰茶园现代

Tea Garden Features:

• Scale: Occupying a vast area and spanning three mountain peaks, the tea garden scenery is like the Land of Oz.
• Architecture: The new teahouse, completed in 2018, consists of three highly designed buildings, using large areas of floor-to-ceiling glass for natural lighting. The top of the building cleverly utilizes the slope angle of the hillside as an observation deck, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery of the tea plantation while sipping tea.
• Products: Produces green tea, oolong tea, scented tea, Tieguanyin, and Pu'er tea, which are sold locally in Thailand and exported to Europe, the US, Taiwan (China), and Japan.

2. Chiang Mai Ankang Mountain Tea Garden - Royal Project Tea Garden

Ankang Mountain is located in the mountainous area of Chiang Mai Province and is affiliated with the Royal Project Foundation, which aims to promote alternative crops and sustainable agriculture. It is a well-known landmark in Chiang Mai, and there is a tea plantation inside the mountain, namely the Ankang Mountain Royal Project Tea Plantation.

• Scale: Tea plantations usually cover mountainous areas ranging from dozens to hundreds of hectares, are developed on gentle slopes above 1,200 meters in altitude, and are interspersed with forests, forming a well-ordered terraced landscape.
• Architecture: Predominantly in the traditional Lanna style, it uses wooden structures, bamboo weaving, and thatched roofs, features viewing pavilions, tea-making workshops, and tea-tasting galleries, blending seamlessly with the mountain mists, presenting a natural and rustic charm.
• Varieties: Mainly planted Assam varieties (such as "Chiang Mai No. 6") and a small amount of Chinese small-leaf varieties, with additional introductions of Taiwanese Jinxuan, oolong tea, etc., taking into account both yield and flavor diversity.

3. Wild Tea Trees in Mae Hong Son Province - The "Jungle Treasure" on the Thai-Myanmar Border

At the border between Thailand and Myanmar in Mae Hong Son Province, at elevations ranging from 900 to 1300 meters, there grow a large number of wild ancient tea trees. This region is the central area between India and Yunnan, China, and its tea has been used in traditional recipes and medicine for centuries since its inception.

Unique Value of Wild Tea Trees:

• Tea trees grow freely in the primary forest, without the need for herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers.
• This cultivation method can not only protect forests but also have no impact on the local wild environment.
• Tea leaves harvested from wild tea trees have a mellow aroma and unique flavor.

4. Araksa Tea Garden - Thailand's First Dual Organic Tea Garden Certified by the EU and US

Among Thailand's numerous tea gardens, Araksa Tea Garden stands as a benchmark—it is not only a scenic tea garden in the Mae Tang area of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, but also the first tea garden in Thailand to simultaneously obtain two major international authoritative organic certifications, truly translating the concept of "organic" into traceable and verifiable standards.

• Double international authoritative certifications, setting the organic benchmark
  • US Organic Certification (USDA Organic): Araksa became the first tea garden in Thailand to obtain USDA Organic certification in 2018, which means that from soil management, planting methods to processing procedures, all comply with the strict organic standards of the US Department of Agriculture.
  • EU Organic Certification: In the same year, the tea garden also passed the EU Organic certification, further demonstrating that its production system meets the stringent requirements of the European market for organic agricultural products.
  • The tea garden and tea processing factory were simultaneously included in the scope of certification, which is extremely rare in Thailand.
• Full-chain organic from tea garden to teacup
  • All tea leaves are hand-picked to avoid mechanical damage.
  • The processing factory strictly adheres to organic production specifications and does not cross-contaminate with conventional tea.
  • Products include organic oolong tea, black tea, green tea, etc., with pure flavor and rich layers.

Therefore, if you are looking for a truly "certified and standard-compliant" organic tea garden in Thailand, Araksa Tea Garden is the most worthy representative to visit.

5. Overview of Core Production Areas

Historical Origins: From "Dream of the Red Chamber" to Royal Projects

Thailand's connection with tea is far more long-standing than we might imagine. From the tea records of ancient Siam to the transformation of modern alternative cultivation, Thai tea has traversed a unique historical journey.

1. Historical Evolution Timeline

2. The Transformation Path of Alternative Cropping

The mountainous areas in northern Thailand were once the core region of poppy cultivation in the Golden Triangle. In the mid-20th century, the Thai government launched the "Royal Project" to guide mountain farmers to abandon poppy cultivation and shift to high-value economic crops, with tea trees becoming one of the most important alternative crops. Today, the three provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son have listed tea as a strategic crop. There are multiple tea factories built locally, most of which are run by overseas Chinese, with immigrants from Fujian and Guangdong being the majority; in the northern mountainous areas, there are some tea factories, mostly run by former Kuomintang troops originally from Yunnan, mainly processing and producing Yunnan wild large-leaf tea trees.

3. The Legend of the Remnants of the Kuomintang and Tea Plant Germplasm

The small and medium-leaf tea tree varieties in Thailand were mainly introduced from China and Taiwan. The early source was that the Taiwan authorities, in order to placate the remnants of the Kuomintang stranded in northern Thailand, voluntarily provided tea tree seedlings to enable them to maintain a stable life. This historical background has given Thai tea a deep connection with Chinese tea tree varieties. Even today, there are still some tea factories in the northern mountainous regions of Thailand that were established by former Kuomintang troops originally from Yunnan, continuing the traditional tea-making techniques.

4. Import and Export Trade Pattern

In 2024, Thailand's tea production was 106,600 tons, with a year-on-year increase of 0.3%; tea imports were approximately $35 million, mainly sourced from China, Vietnam, and Myanmar; exports reached $70.2 million, mainly exported to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Laos, the US, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Varieties and Processes: The Flavor Profile of Thai Tea

Thailand has a rich variety of tea, covering major tea categories such as green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and white tea, each with its own characteristics.

1. Main Tea Types and Flavor Characteristics

• Black Tea (Assam Black Tea): Mainly produced in the northern low-altitude areas, the tea liquor is deep red and rich, with malt and fruit aromas, suitable for making Thai milk tea with milk and sugar. Some premium black teas, such as Lahu Black, use wild raw materials and have forest fruit aromas and a mellow flavor like a woody liqueur.

• Oolong tea: Mainly produced in the high-altitude mountainous areas of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, with fermentation levels ranging from medium to heavy. It has a delicate aroma, with floral or honey notes, a sweet and mellow taste, and some high-end products are comparable in quality to Taiwanese high mountain oolong tea.

• Green tea: It is mainly supplied to the domestic market, mostly processed into scented tea (flower tea), with the delicate fragrance of jasmine or gardenia, clear tea soup, and fresh and refreshing taste.

• Ancient Tree White Tea: Harvested from wild large tea trees on the Thai-Myanmar border, naturally withered and dried, the tea soup is golden and transparent, with a unique wild charm and honey-sweet aroma.

2. Process Innovation: From Traditional to Modern

The processing technology of Thai tea combines tradition and modernity:

• Traditional Craft: Some tea factories in the northern mountainous areas continue the traditional tea-making techniques of Yunnan and Fujian, producing Pu'er, Tieguanyin, etc.
• Modern Innovation: Modern tea enterprises such as Cuifeng Tea Garden have introduced tea-making technology and equipment from Taiwan, combined with local climate characteristics, and developed new processing techniques suitable for Thailand's local conditions.
• Special Treatment: The black tea used in Thai milk tea usually undergoes a "roasting" process, which makes the tea aroma more intense and enables it to blend perfectly with condensed milk.

Tasting Guide: How to Taste Thai Tea

Different types of tea have different brewing techniques, and the following outlines the key points for you:

1. Brewing Parameter Guide

2. Special Brewing Method of Thai Milk Tea

Thai milk tea is the most representative way of consuming Thai tea. Key points for preparation:

• Deep-roasted Assam broken tea is selected, with a rich tea flavor.
• Use a "tea bag" to repeatedly pull the tea, allowing the tea soup to fully oxidize.
• Add condensed milk and evaporated milk at a ratio of approximately tea soup : condensed milk : evaporated milk = 8 : 1 : 1.
• It can be served either with ice or hot, and the orange-red tea soup is its hallmark.

Conclusion

Thai tea, from a substitute crop in the Golden Triangle to a tea aroma miracle that has now spread across the world, has completed a magnificent transformation over the decades. Whether it's the beautiful scenery of the Qinglai Cuifeng Tea Garden, the wild ancient trees on the Thai-Myanmar border, or the cup of orange-red milk tea on the street, they are all worth savoring.

In the next episode, we will continue to explore the niche tea-producing regions in Asia and visit Darjeeling, India - the "champagne" of black teas. Stay tuned!